Month: May 2019

Monthly Question Page

Q. Why did God allow sin to enter the world?

A. The answer is that God has received more glory and man has received more blessing through the sacrifice of Christ than if sin had never entered. We are better off in Christ than we ever could have been in an unfallen, innocent Adam. If Adam had never sinned, he would have enjoyed continued life on earth in the Garden of Eden. But he had no prospect of becoming a redeemed child of God, an heir of God, or a joint-heir with Jesus Christ. He had no promise of a home in heaven or of being with Christ, and like Him forever. These blessings come only through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, which He accomplished at Calvary when He, “bare our sins in His own body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24). “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Adam never stood in such a position before God. Furthermore, Adam never knew what it was to be justified (seen in all the perfection and acceptance of Christ). But in Christianity we read, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).

We would love to hear from you.

Send your comments and questions to jhyland1959@gmail.com

Psalm 63 — Part 3

The Soul in Pursuit

“My soul followeth hard after Thee: Thy right hand upholdeth me. But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth. They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes. But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped” (verses 8-11).

Our God is always in front of us. The Savior went before and we must follow. “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps” (1 Peter 2:21). He gives us the power, and we are to follow as closely as possible. We have a wonderful commendation given by the Lord Himself, concerning a man of faith at the end of the wilderness journey: “My servant Caleb … hath followed Me fully” (Numbers 14:24). Isn’t that the sort of commendation every believer would like? Let’s not be like Peter, of whom we read, “And Peter followed afar off” (Luke 22:54).

Keeping close to the Lord with our hand in His means safety from the enemy, inward joy, and His approval and vindication.

Psalm 63 — Part 2

The Soul Satisfied

“My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise Thee with joyful lips: When I remember Thee upon my bed, and meditate on Thee in the night watches. Because Thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice” (verses 5-7).

To desire God is to have Him. When we long for Him we will be found in His presence drinking at the well of “living water” (John 4:10).David understood this, and had earlier written, “For with Thee is the fountain of life” (Psalm 36:9).

To meditate on Him when we lie down at night is to find true rest and satisfaction for the heart and mind, and it causes us to be able to get up in the morning and go through our day with the conscious sense of His love and protection. His wings give protection as well as the power to rise above the difficulties and circumstances of life. As the prophet later wrote, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

Psalm 63 — Part 1

The Soul Thirsting

A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. 

“O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee: my soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see Thy power and Thy glory, so as I have seen Thee in the sanctuary. Because Thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise Thee. Thus will I bless Thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in Thy name” (title  and verses 1-4).

Let us always be on the alert to see God’s power and glory, not just on special occasions, but every step of our journey through this dry and thirsty, spiritual wilderness. Apart from Himself there is nothing in this world to quench and satisfy the thirst and longing of our hearts. It is Himself, and Himself only! At the end of the Bible the promise of spiritual refreshment is given twice. “And He said unto me … I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely … And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 21:6; 22:17). We are also encouraged, “O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved” (Song of Solomon 5:1).

Dear Young Christian:

A Christian farmer near my home had this thought-provoking message on a large billboard near the road in one of his fields:

Worry is a misuse of imagination!

It reminded me of the ladies on the resurrection morning as they hurried to the tomb of the Lord. The Bible tells us the subject of their conversation: “And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?” (Mark 16:3). However, they needn’t have worried, as the difficulty they thought was going to present itself was already taken care of. “When they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great” (Mark 16:4). In other words, they imagined a difficulty, which led to unnecessary worry. Aren’t we often like that? I know I am. I worry about things that I think are going to happen in the future, and when the time comes, I find that the situation I anticipated never develops, and, even if it does, the Lord is able and sufficient for it.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

We would love to hear from you.

Send your comments and questions to jhyland1959@gmail.com

Astonied

“As many were astonied at Thee; His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men” (Isaiah 52:14).

The word “astonied” means to be stunned, awed, or devastated. Those who viewed the Lord Jesus in the days of His humiliation here on earth and on the cross were stunned at the magnitude of His abuse, and yet His grace and submission to it all. They no doubt wondered, how could one so lovely in spirit be so maltreated?

If the verse we have just considered causes surprise, so too does the next one. “So shall He sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at Him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider” (Isaiah 52:15).

The nations and their kings will one day be surprised at the magnitude of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is far beyond what they had been told. One day we too will see that glory. “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” (Isaiah 40:5).

In the meantime, we are astonied as we consider His person and work today.

Own Worst Enemy

One of the Presidents of Mexico, Ignacio GregorioComonfort de los Rios (March 1812-November 1863), was once his own worst enemy. In the early 19th century, he headed a rebellion against himself during the second year of his presidency (1857). He succeeded beyond his own expectations, resulting in his own overthrow and exile. After seeking asylum in the United States, he returned to Mexico to act as a general against the French invasion in 1862. In 1863, he was made General-in-Chief of the army organized to resist the French Intervention, and on November. 13, 1863, he was killed in a guerilla attack near San Juan de la Vega.

If we live in rebellion against God, we too are our own worst enemy, and will live to regret it — not just in this life but in eternity. Rebellion against God and rejection of His salvation through the work of Christ on Calvary will lead to eternal exile in the lake of fire. “I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come” (John 8:21). I sincerely hope there is no reader of this calendar who is leading a rebellion in their heart towards God and to their eternal ruin!

Give Thanks

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

We were driving on interstate highway 255, just outside of Saint Louis, Missouri, when I noticed a truck in front of me with an interesting bumper sticker on its tailgate. Here is the question it asked:

HAVE YOU GIVEN THANKS TODAY?

What would you have to answer to a question like that? Could you have honestly said, “Yes?”

Here are a couple of verses from the Bible that are good for us to consider in answer to this question:

“By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name” (Hebrews 13:15).

“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20).

God desires that His children have a thankful, happy spirit at all times. Remember, whatever comes our way comes from the good hand of the one who loves us and who is doing the very best for us.

Joy In …

Joy is one of the outstanding characteristics of Christianity. The Lord Jesus said to His disciples, “These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full” (John 15:11). He also said: “Your joy no man taketh from you” (John 16:22). This is a joy that only a believer can have and experience. What a comfort it is to know that the whole Trinity is interested in our joy.

God:

“I will joy in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk 3:18).

“We also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement” (Romans 5:11).

The Lord:

“The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord” (Isaiah 29:19).

The Holy Spirit:

“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Romans 14:17).

Monthly Scripture Reading

1 Peter 1

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.